10 Easy Tips for Growing Blueberries!

There's nothing to be blue about when it comes to growing blueberries! They have minimal maintenance requirements, can endure cold temperatures, and can grow without pesticides or pest control. Want some easy tips for growing some yourself? Read on.

by Deborah Tukua Updated: January 31, 2024

10 easy tips for growing blueberries:

Select an elevated site, such as a hill. If one does not exist, plant blueberries in a raised bed.
Make sure your planting location has good drainage.
Test the soil before planting. Blueberries like an acidic soil with a pH range between 4.8 to 5.2.
Space plants six feet apart.
Plant at least two varieties for cross-pollination.
Water the plant after planting and top the soil surrounding the plant with sawdust mulch.
Remove all flower buds at time of planting to encourage strong root development.
Weed early in the spring, before harvest season begins.
Keep a 2 to 3 foot weed-free circle surrounding each blueberry bush. This has been proven to increase the yield of berries produced.
Young blueberry plants can easily be damaged by weed-eaters. To protect tender plants, place a thick tree protector around the base of each plant. With a little care, an established blueberry plant will produce berries for 20 to 30 years before needing to be replaced.

A man planting a blueberry plant. — Growing blueberries isn’t so hard to do! When planting, choose a raised area with great drainage.

The ideal time to plant blueberries is when the plant is dormant, before fruit appears. They may be planted in either the fall or spring. It generally takes three to five years for a blueberry plant to produce a good yield, but even the smallest plants will have some berries in the first or second summer. Left unpruned, blueberry plants will reach a height of 10 to 12 feet!

A woman picking blueberries from a blueberry bush. — It may take three years to get a good yield from a new blueberry plant, but some plants will produce berries in the first year.

Have you grown blueberries before? Did you encounter any problems or what are your secrets for success?

Let us know in the comments below!

Deborah Tukua

Deborah Tukua is a natural living, healthy lifestyle writer and author of 7 non-fiction books, including Pearls of Garden Wisdom: Time-Saving Tips and Techniques from a Country Home, Pearls of Country Wisdom: Hints from a Small Town on Keeping Garden and Home, and Naturally Sweet Blender Treats. Tukua has been a writer for the Farmers' Almanac since 2004.

Deborah Tukua

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